📄 Description (English)
Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Unrestricted File Upload Vulnerability — Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure contains an unrestricted file upload vulnerability that allows an authenticated administrator to perform a file write via a maliciously crafted archive upload in the administrator web interface.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2021-22900 is a critical unrestricted file upload vulnerability in Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure that allows authenticated administrators to write arbitrary files to the system via malicious archive uploads. With a CVSS score of 9.0 and publicly available exploits, this vulnerability poses an immediate threat to organizations using Pulse Connect Secure for remote access and VPN services. The vulnerability requires administrator credentials but can lead to complete system compromise, including remote code execution and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 20, 2026 03:56
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability critically impacts Saudi organizations relying on Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure for remote workforce access, particularly affecting: (1) Banking sector and SAMA-regulated institutions using VPN for secure remote operations; (2) Government agencies and NCA-supervised entities managing sensitive administrative access; (3) Energy sector (ARAMCO and subsidiaries) requiring secure remote administration; (4) Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily, Zain) managing infrastructure remotely; (5) Healthcare organizations accessing patient systems remotely. Compromised Pulse Connect Secure instances can serve as pivot points for lateral movement into critical infrastructure, potentially exposing SWIFT transactions, government classified data, and industrial control systems.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Defense and Security
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure instances in your environment and document versions
2. Restrict administrative access to Pulse Connect Secure web interface to trusted networks only
3. Enable enhanced logging and monitoring of administrator activities and file uploads
4. Review audit logs for suspicious archive uploads or file write activities
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Apply Ivanti security patches immediately (versions 9.1.x, 9.0.x require specific patch versions)
2. Prioritize patching for internet-facing instances
3. Test patches in non-production environment first
4. Schedule maintenance windows for patching with minimal business disruption
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching delayed):
1. Implement network segmentation to isolate Pulse Connect Secure from critical systems
2. Disable file upload functionality if not required for operations
3. Implement strict file integrity monitoring on Pulse Connect Secure system directories
4. Enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrator accounts
5. Implement IP whitelisting for administrative access
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for POST requests to /dana-na/admin/upload endpoints with suspicious file extensions
2. Alert on archive file uploads (.zip, .tar, .gz) to administrative interfaces
3. Monitor for unexpected file creation in system directories (/bin, /lib, /etc)
4. Track changes to web application files and configuration files
5. Monitor for process execution from unexpected directories following file uploads
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع مثيلات Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure في بيئتك وتوثيق الإصدارات
2. تقييد الوصول الإداري إلى واجهة الويب الخاصة بـ Pulse Connect Secure للشبكات الموثوقة فقط
3. تفعيل السجلات المحسّنة ومراقبة أنشطة المسؤول وتحميل الملفات
4. مراجعة سجلات التدقيق للأنشطة المريبة لتحميل الأرشيفات أو كتابة الملفات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تطبيق تصحيحات أمان Ivanti على الفور (الإصدارات 9.1.x و 9.0.x تتطلب إصدارات تصحيح محددة)
2. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح المثيلات المواجهة للإنترنت
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
4. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لتصحيح الأخطاء مع تقليل انقطاع الأعمال
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
1. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل Pulse Connect Secure عن الأنظمة الحرجة
2. تعطيل وظيفة تحميل الملفات إذا لم تكن مطلوبة للعمليات
3. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات الصارمة على دلائل نظام Pulse Connect Secure
4. فرض المصادقة متعددة العوامل لجميع حسابات المسؤول
5. تنفيذ القائمة البيضاء للعناوين IP للوصول الإداري
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة طلبات POST إلى نقاط نهاية /dana-na/admin/upload مع امتدادات ملفات مريبة
2. تنبيه عند تحميل ملفات الأرشيف (.zip و .tar و .gz) إلى الواجهات الإدارية
3. مراقبة إنشاء الملفات غير المتوقعة في دلائل النظام (/bin و /lib و /etc)
4. تتبع التغييرات في ملفات تطبيق الويب وملفات التكوين
5. مراقبة تنفيذ العملية من الدلائل غير المتوقعة بعد تحميل الملفات
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.8.1.1 - User access management
A.12.2.1 - Change management procedures
A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
A.14.2.1 - Secure development and maintenance
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software platforms and applications are inventoried
PR.AC-1 - Identities and credentials are issued and managed
PR.PT-1 - Security patches and updates are managed
DE.CM-1 - The network is monitored for unauthorized connections
DE.CM-3 - Personnel activity is monitored to detect anomalous behavior
RS.MI-2 - Incidents are mitigated
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Information security policy
A.6.1.1 - Organization of information security
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.12.2.1 - Change management
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 2.2.4 - Configure system security parameters
Requirement 6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed
Requirement 10.2 - Implement automated audit trails
Requirement 11.3 - Perform penetration testing
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Ivanti:Pulse Connect Secure